Réglementation France · COV · Guide importateurs · Marché français
COV Classe A+ France —
Le Guide Complet
pour les Importateurs
By Ecoflors Export Team · May 2026 · 8 min read · French Market Compliance Reference
La réponse directe — ce que la France exige réellement
COV Classe A+ est la classification la plus haute du système d’étiquetage obligatoire des émissions de composés organiques volatils (COV) instauré par le Décret n°2011-321. Depuis le 1er septembre 2013, tout revêtement de sol vendu en France doit obligatoirement afficher une étiquette COV classée A+, A, B ou C. FloorScore et GREENGUARD Gold ne satisfont pas cette exigence. Le certificat Eurofins IAC Gold — que détient Ecoflors — couvre la Classe A+ COV aux côtés de l’AgBB allemand, de la réglementation COV belge et de la taxonomie UE dans un seul rapport de test.
What Décret n°2011-321 Actually Requires
The French VOC labelling regulation — established by Décret n°2011-321 and its associated Arrêté du 19 avril 2011 — created a mandatory four-tier emissions classification system for all construction products sold in France that may release VOCs into indoor air. The regulation applies to all flooring products without exception: SPC, LVT, laminate, parquet, ceramic tile adhesives, and carpet.
The regulation is not voluntary. A flooring product placed on the French market without the correct COV label is in violation of French law — subject to product withdrawal, fines, and liability for the importer or distributor who placed it on the market. Furthermore, unlike CE marking (which applies to the factory), the COV labelling obligation applies to the product as sold in France — meaning the French importer or distributor is responsible for ensuring the label appears on every carton sold to French buyers.
“La Classe A+ n’est pas un argument marketing — c’est une obligation légale. Un produit vendu en France sans étiquette COV expose l’importateur à des sanctions.”
The Four Classes — What Each Means
A+
Très faibles émissions
TVOC ≤1,000 μg/m³
Formaldéhyde ≤10 μg/m³
CMR ≤1 μg/m³ each
✓ Ecoflors — all products
A
Faibles émissions
TVOC ≤1,500 μg/m³
Formaldéhyde ≤60 μg/m³
CMR ≤1 μg/m³ each
B
Émissions moyennes
TVOC ≤2,000 μg/m³
Formaldéhyde ≤120 μg/m³
CMR limits apply
C
Fortes émissions
Above Class B limits.
Products in Class C
are effectively unsaleable in France
In practice, Class A+ is the only commercially viable classification for flooring sold in France. Class A, B, and C products can theoretically be placed on the French market — but specifiers, architects, and commercial buyers in France will not accept anything below A+. Furthermore, any project targeting HQE (Haute Qualité Environnementale) certification requires A+ as a baseline — A class is insufficient.
The Specific Limits — What Is Tested and at What Threshold
The French COV regulation tests emissions under ISO 16000 chamber conditions (23°C, 50% relative humidity, 0.5 air changes per hour) with a 28-day measurement period. The 28-day figure is the binding classification figure — the product must achieve all A+ limits simultaneously at day 28.
| Composé / Compound |
Classe A+ limit (28 jours) |
Ecoflors result (Eurofins) |
| COVT / TVOC | ≤1,000 μg/m³ | ＜2 μg/m³ · Classe A+ |
| Formaldéhyde / Formaldehyde | ≤10 μg/m³ | ＜3 μg/m³ · Classe A+ |
| Acétaldéhyde / Acetaldehyde | ≤200 μg/m³ | ＜3 μg/m³ · Classe A+ |
| Toluène / Toluene | ≤300 μg/m³ | ＜2 μg/m³ · Classe A+ |
| Tétrachloroéthylène | ≤250 μg/m³ | Non détecté · Classe A+ |
| Xylènes (sum) | ≤200 μg/m³ | ＜1 μg/m³ · Classe A+ |
| 1,2,4-Triméthylbenzène | ≤1,000 μg/m³ | Non détecté · Classe A+ |
| Styrène / Styrene | ≤250 μg/m³ | ＜2 μg/m³ · Classe A+ |
Réglementation CMR — substances cancérigènes, mutagènes et reprotoxiques
Benzène: ≤1 μg/m³ — Ecoflors: ＜0.5 μg/m³ · PASS
Trichloréthylène: ≤1 μg/m³ — Ecoflors: non détecté · PASS
DEHP: ≤1 μg/m³ — Ecoflors: non détecté · PASS
DBP (dibutylphtalate): ≤1 μg/m³ — Ecoflors: non détecté · PASS
Two aspects of the French COV regulation are frequently misunderstood by importers. First, the CMR (cancérigènes, mutagènes, reprotoxiques) compound limits — benzene, trichloroethylene, DEHP, and DBP — have been mandatory since 2010, predating the main COV regulation by three years. These are absolute limits: any product exceeding 1 μg/m³ for any individual CMR compound cannot be legally sold in France regardless of its overall TVOC class. Second, the classification must be re-evaluated if the product formulation changes — a COV A+ certificate for one SPC formulation does not automatically apply to a product with a different core compound ratio.
Why FloorScore and GREENGUARD Gold Do Not Satisfy COV A+
COV Classe A+
Décret n°2011-321 · Mandatory France
Legally mandatory for all flooring sold in France
28-day ISO 16000 test — the binding measurement point
Specific French compound limits including CMR substances
Label must appear on every carton sold in France
Required for HQE certification and French public building procurement
FloorScore
California Section 01350 · North America
Not accepted as COV A+ equivalent in France
14-day measurement — shorter than French 28-day protocol
Different compound list — does not cover all French CMR substances
Accepted for LEED v4 and BREEAM — valid for green building credits
Cannot substitute for COV A+ on French packaging or tenders
GREENGUARD Gold
UL 2818 · CHPS · Schools and healthcare
Not accepted as COV A+ equivalent in France
Different test standard and compound reference list
Accepted for LEED v4, WELL v2, and French HQE as supplementary credential
Stricter limits than FloorScore — but still not COV A+ equivalent
Cannot appear on French packaging as substitute for COV A+ label
The Mandatory Packaging Label — What Must Appear on Every Carton
This is the compliance requirement most importers miss. COV A+ certification is not only about having a test report — the classification label must physically appear on the product packaging sold to French end-users. An importer who holds the test report but does not print the COV label on cartons is still in violation of Décret n°2011-321.
Contenu obligatoire de l’étiquette COV — French packaging requirement
A+ Émissions dans l’air intérieur
The label must state: (1) The classification letter (A+, A, B, or C) — prominently displayed; (2) “Émissions dans l’air intérieur” — the mandatory French phrase; (3) The name of the product or product line to which the classification applies; (4) Reference to the test report — test laboratory name and report number. The label design must follow the format specified in Arrêté du 19 avril 2011. Ecoflors provides the full Eurofins IAC Gold test report and the COV A+ classification declaration — the French importer or OEM distributor uses these documents to produce the mandatory carton label for their market.
⚠ Risque fréquent pour les importateurs français
The most common compliance failure for French flooring importers sourcing from China is receiving products with CE marking and FloorScore — and assuming this satisfies French market requirements. It does not. The CE mark satisfies EU Construction Products Regulation requirements. FloorScore satisfies LEED/BREEAM IAQ credits. Neither satisfies Décret n°2011-321. A DGCCRF (Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes) inspection finding a product without the COV A+ label on French retail shelves is a withdrawal-and-fine risk for the importer.
How to Get COV A+ Compliant Flooring — The Complete Process
01
Request the Eurofins IAC Gold test report — not just the certificate
The full Eurofins IAC Gold test report (typically 20–30 pages) contains the COV A+ compliance declaration, all 28-day compound results, the laboratory accreditation number, and the French regulation reference. This is the document that proves COV A+ compliance — the certificate number alone is insufficient for DGCCRF verification or French tender submission.
02
Verify CMR compound results specifically
Check the test report confirms benzene ≤1 μg/m³, trichloroethylene ≤1 μg/m³, DEHP ≤1 μg/m³, and DBP ≤1 μg/m³. These four CMR limits are mandatory independently of the overall TVOC class — a product that achieves A+ TVOC but fails a single CMR limit is not compliant.
03
Produce the mandatory COV label for your cartons
Using the Eurofins test report and COV A+ classification declaration, produce the Arrêté du 19 avril 2011 compliant label for your OEM carton design. The label must display the A+ class prominently. For OEM programme members, Ecoflors provides the carton artwork specification including the COV A+ label template.
04
Request CE DoP in your company name for French tenders
French public building tenders additionally require CE EN 14041 DoP naming the French importer, not the Chinese factory. Ecoflors reissues CE DoPs in the buyer’s company name as standard. French-language documentation (DoP, Bfl-s1 certificate, and Eurofins COV summary) available at no additional charge.
05
Le Havre ou Marseille — 26–32 jours depuis Ningbo
FOB Ningbo to Le Havre: 26–30 days. FOB Ningbo to Marseille/Fos-sur-Mer: 28–32 days. HS Code 3918.10: 0% EU import duty (MFN rate for China). 20ft container recommended for SPC 6mm+ to comply with 28-tonne gross weight limit at French ports.
Ce qu’Ecoflors fournit pour le marché français
Every Ecoflors shipment to France includes: Eurofins IAC Gold test report (covers COV A+ · AgBB · Belgian VOC · EU Taxonomy · LEED v4.1 · BREEAM), CE Declaration of Performance (EN 14041 — reissued in the French distributor’s company name on request), Bfl-s1 fire certificate (EN 13501-1 — required for French commercial buildings), COV A+ classification declaration (for French packaging label production), and French-language documentation (DoP, COV declaration, and Eurofins summary) available at no additional charge. FOB from US$3.80/m² (Dryback 2mm) · US$6.35/m² (SPC 5mm) · MOQ 800 m² / SKU · Le Havre 26–30 jours.
Questions fréquentes / Frequently Asked Questions
What is COV Classe A+ in France?
COV Classe A+ is the highest classification under France’s mandatory VOC labelling scheme (Décret n°2011-321). Since 1 September 2013, all flooring products sold in France must carry a COV label classified A+, A, B, or C — with A+ indicating very low emissions. The classification is based on 28-day ISO 16000 chamber testing. Classe A+ requires TVOC below 1,000 μg/m³, formaldehyde below 10 μg/m³, and all CMR substances (benzene, trichloroethylene, DEHP, DBP) below 1 μg/m³. This is a legal requirement, not a voluntary certification.
Does FloorScore satisfy the French COV requirement?
No. FloorScore (California Section 01350) does not satisfy COV Classe A+ under Décret n°2011-321. The French regulation uses a different test protocol (28-day versus FloorScore’s 14-day measurement), a different compound reference list, and specific CMR substance limits that are not evaluated under FloorScore. A product holding FloorScore but not COV A+ cannot legally display the A+ label on French packaging. The Eurofins IAC Gold certificate — which Ecoflors holds — covers COV A+ alongside AgBB (Germany), Belgian VOC regulation, and LEED v4.1 simultaneously.
Is the COV label mandatory on every carton sold in France?
Yes. The COV classification label must physically appear on the product packaging sold to French end-users — having the test report is necessary but not sufficient. The label must display the classification letter (A+), the phrase “Émissions dans l’air intérieur”, the product name, and a reference to the test report, in compliance with Arrêté du 19 avril 2011. An importer who holds a COV A+ test report but does not print the label on cartons is still in violation of the French regulation.
Is COV A+ required for commercial flooring in France, or only residential?
COV Classe A+ labelling is mandatory for all flooring products sold in France — residential and commercial, without distinction. Furthermore, for French public building procurement (schools, hospitals, government offices), COV A+ is required alongside CE EN 14041 and Bfl-s1. HQE (Haute Qualité Environnementale) certification — the French equivalent of BREEAM — additionally requires COV A+ as a baseline for all floor coverings in certified buildings.
What is the Eurofins IAC Gold certificate and how does it relate to COV A+?
The Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort (IAC) Gold label is an accreditation awarded by Eurofins laboratories to products that simultaneously satisfy multiple national VOC standards in a single test series. Specifically, Eurofins IAC Gold covers COV A+ France (Décret n°2011-321), AgBB Germany, Belgian VOC regulation, EU Taxonomy Article 9/10, REACH 2023, Blue Angel DE-UZ 120, LEED v4.1, BREEAM, and WELL v2. Ecoflors holds Eurofins IAC Gold — meaning one certificate satisfies French market access, German public building procurement, and LEED credits simultaneously without separate national tests for each market.
COV Classe A+ · Eurofins IAC Gold · CE EN 14041 · Bfl-s1 · FOB Le Havre · Factory direct
Revêtements de Sol COV A+
pour le Marché Français
Ecoflors fournit des revêtements SPC et LVT conformes COV Classe A+ avec le rapport complet Eurofins IAC Gold, la Déclaration de Performance CE au nom de votre société, le certificat Bfl-s1, et la documentation en français. FOB à partir de US$3.80/m² · MOQ 800 m² / SKU · Le Havre 26–30 jours.
